Led Kaapana, Hawaii’s legendary master of the slack-key guitar, brings his musical wizardry to the Freight for an evening of traditional Hawaiian classics and compelling originals. Led also excels on ukulele, autoharp, bass, and steel guitar, and has a beautiful baritone singing voice as well as a glorious falsetto. He has recorded more than 30 albums as a solo artist and a member of the groups Hui Ohana and I Kona, and appeared on more than 40 collaborations and compilations, including two Grammy winners. As one of Hawaii’s foremost musical ambassadors, he has worked with Alison Krauss, Dolly Parton, Bob Brozman, and Ricky Skaggs.

Led grew up in a musical family and cites his mother, singer Tina Kaapana, and his uncle, slack-key virtuoso Fred Punahoa, as his main influences. He started improvising as soon as he started playing slack-key, which takes its name from the technique of “slacking,” or loosening guitar strings to create alternate tunings. Improvising, he says, is based on two things, the song itself and the mood of the moment, and the mood changes every time you play the song. “Led plays with great soul, happiness, gratitude, virtuosity, respect for his influences and peers, and love of his audiences,” says pianist and producer George Winston. “He enjoys playing more than anyone I’ve ever seen.” You don’t have to fly to Hawaii to feel the essence of the Hawaiian spirit. Just come to the Freight and hear Led play and sing.